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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Howard Morin, founder and partner at Helium Advisors, about integrating tax planning into the center of wealth management services. Located in Seattle and started in 2016, Helium has grown organically, with some M&A, to $270 million in assets. The focus on tax planning throughout the financial planning process ensures clients maximize after-tax returns, which are, after all, the only returns that count. While Helium leads with their tax and wealth management expertise, they also collaborate with a network of legal and accounting professionals for specialized support to meet the varying needs of each client.
Specifically, David and Howard discuss:
- How Helium Advisors stands out by prioritizing tax integration from the outset, ensuring a cohesive approach to financial planning.
- Why a tax-centric approach can significantly impact a client’s financial well-being and help clients minimize tax liabilities.
- Addressing the challenges of balancing personalized service with efficient growth by scaling processes and maintaining a strong employee-to-client ratio.
- The importance of utilizing the right technology to streamline processes and enhance client service.
- Keeping client focus by understanding each client’s unique goals and risk tolerance, and also offering guidance on complex issues like business decisions and estate planning.
Resources:
Connect With David Armstrong:
- WealthManagement.com
- LinkedIn: WealthManagment.com
- LinkedIn: David Armstrong
- Twitter/X: @djamesarmstrong
- LinkedIn: Informa
Connect With Howard Morin:
- LinkedIn: Howard Morin
- Helium Advisors
About Our Guest:
Howard Morin co-founded Helium Advisors with partner Gary Russell in 2016. Howard has over 20 years of financial services and organizational leadership experience. Most recently, he oversaw the Financial Services Group of Conover serving as CEO of both the Conover Securities Corporation and Conover Capital Management. Starting as a manager of the institutional trader business at TradeStation Group his success was recognized by the Intel Corporation who relocated him to the Pacific Northwest in 2000 where he was named Managing Director of Global Financial Services. At Intel, Howard was responsible for implementing technology at some of the largest financial institutions in the world. After a career at Intel he returned to Wall Street, joining Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) as a private financial advisor. Howard is passionate about advising clients on key decisions and working with employers to align their corporate retirement plan with their strategic goals. A native of South Florida, after almost 20 years in the Seattle area, he now calls Scottsdale, Arizona home.